After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 35

The day after, Shindou challenged me to a match.

Sena-san didn’t come to school today. She had completely lost her temper yesterday, but it’s not like she got sick from stress after hearing Shindou’s dizzying words.

No, she did look like she had a pretty bad headache.

Even so, I’m not too worried about her.

And the reason goes back to when Shindou challenged me yesterday.

＊＊＊

“What are you even saying…? Shiomi-kun. You don’t have to deal with someone like him.”

“…”

He just got a girlfriend, and yet he’s already saying something this stupid.

That’s what I thought, but at the same time, I knew I couldn’t just ignore it.

That obsessive attachment he has to his childhood friend borders on something unhealthy.

And that stubborn hatred toward me, like he has to beat me no matter what.

If it were only me, I could let it slide. But at this rate, Sena-san would get dragged into it too.

He’s forcing his own feelings on her, acting like she belongs to him.

If I don’t stop that arrogant mindset now, the same thing will keep happening again.

“What’s wrong? Why so quiet? Don’t tell me, you’re scared of losing to─”

“Fine. Let’s have the match.”

“Gasp─”

“Why so surprised? You’re the one who suggested it, right?”

“Y-Yeah, but are you sure? I’m going to win.”

“Think whatever you want. But I’m not betting Sena-san. She’s not some object.”

“…Trying to act like a good guy. Then what are we betting?”

“The loser has to do one thing the winner says. How’s that? If you win, I’ll obey whatever order you give me, tell me to apologize on my knees, or to stay away from Sena-san, whatever you want.”

“H-hmph. Fine by me. It’s settled then. Ah, shoot, Rei just sent me a ton of messages… whatever! I can’t wait to see you lose and beg for mercy. D-Don’t forget what you said!?”

With that, Shindou glanced at his phone, threw out one last lame villain line, and stormed off like the wind.

…Come to think of it, I agreed without even asking Sena-san how she felt.

I made sure not to bet her, but she’s still involved in all this.

If I lose, things between us might get awkward.

Maybe she’s mad at me?

She hasn’t said a word since earlier…

I nervously looked over at her.

“…”

She was looking down, and I couldn’t tell what kind of expression she had.

I should probably… apologize first.

“Sena-san, I’m sorry. I decided that on my own.”

“…”

“Sena-san?”

I shook her shoulder. She didn’t move.

“─”

“(K-kyaa…)”

There was Sena-san with her eyes unfocused and her expression completely dazed.

I shook her once more, harder this time.

“S-Sena-san!?”

“─Huh!? What are you doing!?”

“Are you okay? I’m sorry I made that decision with Shindou without asking you.”

“No, that’s fine… (Kyaa)”

“I just thought it wouldn’t be good if things stayed like this. I figured you wouldn’t want someone always following you around. Was I being a bother?”

“No! Not at all! (Kyaa). Okay, got it! I’ll take the day off tomorrow!! (Kyaa)”

“Huh?”

“I’ll make him look dumb. Shiomi-kun. I’ll make perfect test practice questions, so look forward to it…? (Kyaa)”

“…Yes.”

Sena-san sounded happy, but there was something a little scary about her smile.

＊＊＊

Right now, Sena-san is at home, working hard to create practice test questions.

I felt a little bad about it, but she told me not to worry. She said she was doing it because she enjoyed it.

Because of that, the person who was usually by my side in class isn’t here today.

Right now, it’s P.E. time. The girls are doing a different activity in the gym next door, so even though they’re nearby, we can’t really see them.

The tests are just around the corner, so most classes are spent reviewing. But P.E. still goes on like normal.

Today, the guys are playing basketball.

Next to us, the girls are playing badminton, and every now and then, we can hear the clean sound of a shuttle hitting the racket.

Since the girls are right next door, the guys are more fired up than usual.

Maybe it’s a little shallow, but that’s how teenage boys are. Everyone wants to look cool in front of the girls.

That included Shindou, who was still full of himself after getting a girlfriend.

“Hey, Shindou. You could’ve passed to Tanaka just now!?”

“Hmph, it’s fine. It’s better if I shoot, I’m more reliable than some beginner trying to score.”

“Maybe so, but it’s P.E. You should let the others play a bit too. It’s a team sport.”

“No way. I’m good at basketball, so why wouldn’t I show it off? Besides… my girlfriend’s watching.”

That was Imaoka talking with Shindou.

They weren’t really fighting, but Imaoka seemed tired of Shindou’s selfish play and was trying to reason with him.

On the other hand, Shindou kept glancing toward the girls’ court, especially at Kuroe-san.

She must’ve been taking a break; she waved back at him when she noticed.

That only fired up the rest of the guys even more.

“All right, next round. We’re taking Shindou’s team down.”

“Yeah, make him cry.”

“But he’s from the basketball club. He’s good.”

“Hey, Shiomi, what do you think we should do to beat him?”

I just wanted to enjoy the game, but it seemed everyone else had made this personal.

I hadn’t really gotten close to any of the guys since our second year started, but now, we all felt united by a common goal for some reason.

Maybe it’s also because Shindou started dating Kuroe-san.

Or rather, it’s more than everyone has started to notice just how arrogant he really is.

When he throws that much attitude around, people aren’t going to think kindly of him.

“Well, with Shindou, he’s full of himself. But if we surround him and cut off his passes, we might be able to handle him. He never shares the ball anyway.”

“…That’s it!!”

“Shiomi, are you good at coming up with strategies or something?”

“Alright, let’s crush him. Completely.”

Oumi, Yoshida, and Tamaki all got fired up, their eyes burning with excitement.

Then, the buzzer rang, signaling the end of the current match, and it was finally our team’s turn to play.

And our opponents were…

“Hmph. Shiomi? This will be an easy win. Try not to embarrass yourself too badly when my amazing plays outshine you.”

It was Shindou’s team.